StayApt Suites brand launches in U.S.: New extended stay brand StayApt Suites has launched in the U.S., beginning with its first location, which opened October 1 in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Layout for rooms includes a dedicated living room, full kitchen and separate bedroom. The Matthews, North Carolina-based company opens several new locations this fall and winter, including in Alexandria-Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Greer, South Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; and Houston, Texas. The chain has 18-plus hotels slated to open through 2021.
Lawsuit against Marriott dropped: A Manhattan landlord who brought Marriott International to court last week alleging misappropriation of US$12 million at its now-defunct Marriott East Side hotel in New York City, withdrew his case. The Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp.-backed joint venture, which owns the building that houses the hotel, filed the lawsuit against Marriott in New York State Supreme Court last week and had sought US$42 million for breach of contract. According to a spokesman for Ashkenazy Acquisitions, “Ben Ashkenazy has a long-standing relationship with Marriott International and its executives. The partnership, including its majority partner, Deka, has agreed to immediately withdraw the case and resolve this matter amicably.”
BlackSand Capital taps Private Label Collection: Private Label Collection, a Hawaii-based luxury hospitality management company, will take over management of the Kaimana Beach Hotel starting December 1. The hotel’s owner, BT Kalakaua, a joint venture of Hawaii real estate investment firm BlackSand Capital and Tokyo hospitality company Tsukada Global Holdings, hired Private Label Collection to create a new vision for the 122-room boutique hotel. BT Kalakaua bought the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel from New Otani in December 2018 for US$23.9 million and leased it back to the Tokyo-based company for two years, with the lease expiring Nov. 30. BlackSand Capital bought the land beneath the then-leasehold hotel in May 2016 for US$31.8 million.
More from Pacific Business News
KPartners goes international: San Antonio, Texas-based hospitality management company KPartners is now managing its first international property, the Days Inn by Wyndham Piedras Negras. The upscale newly renovated 81-room hotel is located in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, just across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. It’s owned by Ohana Hospitality de Mexico SA de CV.
AHLA partners with Latino association: The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Latino Hotel Association (LHA) will collaborate, starting January 1, to deepen both organizations’ shared goals of advancing public policy and advocacy efforts of the U.S. hotel industry and growing Latino investment in the community of Latino owners and operators.
Rome’s Bettoja Hotels adds a fourth: Rome-based Bettoja Hotels is adding the 153-room Hotel Nord Nuova Roma to its collection. The hotel collection also plans new deluxe rooms at the Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio. The new Bettoja Hotels now consists of the 4-star Hotel Mediterraneo, Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio, Hotel Atlantico and the 3-star Nord Nuova Roma.